Historic Season for Drive-In Theaters Comes to End
2020-11-07
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1With temperatures dropping across the United States, drive-in theaters do not have much time left.
2Still, many drive-ins, or places where people watch movies in their cars, are staying open beyond their usual closing date for the season.
3The Northfield Drive-in, near Hinsdale, New Hampshire, went two months past its closing date.
4The drive-in has played an important part in the community.
5Along with movies, it has held graduation ceremonies for everyone from young students to doctors of medicine.
6Northfield held its final event last weekend. Visitor Julia Wiggins called the drive-in "a major community service project. "
7Hundreds of miles away, Jay Mowery operates the Cumberland Drive-in in Newville, Pennsylvania.
8Mowery has held a wedding there, a trick-or-treating event and other activities.
9He also closed the drive-in for the season last weekend.
10But, like other drive-in owners, he expects to continue socially-distanced events when he re-opens in the spring.
11"It's been a lot better than being closed, and it's certainly helped the community. It's given them a place to gather," says Mowery.
12John Vincent is president of the United Drive-In Theatre Owners Association.
13Vincent estimates more than 200 drive-ins were still operating through last weekend.
14Showing movies is only part of what these drive-ins do - especially since Hollywood film companies stopped releasing their big films.
15Marcella Snyder runs the Tibbs Drive-in the midwestern city of Indianapolis, Indiana.
16Snyder usually holds one or two private events a year.
17This year, she held 50. And, she says, the requests are still coming for November and December.
18"If it starts snowing, what am I going to do?" asked Snyder.
19Like indoor theaters, drive-ins are limiting visitor numbers by about half to make safe social distancing possible.
20This fall, most drive-ins are seeing much higher attendance than normal.
21Drive-ins like Tibbs now use online ticketing and food ordering.
22"We built our whole business on nostalgia and it's nice that we've turned a corner. We've kind of brought it into the 21st century," says Snyder.
23Some American drive-ins have even more to offer.
24Just outside the city of Detroit, Michigan, is the Ford Wyoming Drive-In.
25It has five large screens and is open all night, from sundown to sunrise.
26The Ford Wyoming does not have a "season."
27Its operator also owns a building company, so the drive-in has snow-clearing equipment available nearby.
28The drive-in is open year round.
29Co-owner William Clark admits the Ford Wyoming is "unusual" for drive-ins.
30He says ticket sales this October were about two times higher than usual.
31"We never close," he says, unless "there's a 10-inch snowstorm right before the movie goes on the screen."
32I'm John Russell.
1With temperatures dropping across the United States, drive-in theaters do not have much time left. Still, many drive-ins, or places where people watch movies in their cars, are staying open beyond their usual closing date for the season. 2The Northfield Drive-in, near Hinsdale, New Hampshire, went two months past its closing date. The drive-in has played an important part in the community. Along with movies, it has held graduation ceremonies for everyone from young students to doctors of medicine. 3Northfield held its final event last weekend. Visitor Julia Wiggins called the drive-in "a major community service project. " 4Hundreds of miles away, Jay Mowery operates the Cumberland Drive-in in Newville, Pennsylvania. Mowery has held a wedding there, a trick-or-treating event and other activities. He also closed the drive-in for the season last weekend. But, like other drive-in owners, he expects to continue socially-distanced events when he re-opens in the spring. 5"It's been a lot better than being closed, and it's certainly helped the community. It's given them a place to gather," says Mowery. 6John Vincent is president of the United Drive-In Theatre Owners Association. Vincent estimates more than 200 drive-ins were still operating through last weekend. 7Showing movies is only part of what these drive-ins do - especially since Hollywood film companies stopped releasing their big films. 8Marcella Snyder runs the Tibbs Drive-in the midwestern city of Indianapolis, Indiana. Snyder usually holds one or two private events a year. This year, she held 50. And, she says, the requests are still coming for November and December. 9"If it starts snowing, what am I going to do?" asked Snyder. 10Like indoor theaters, drive-ins are limiting visitor numbers by about half to make safe social distancing possible. 11This fall, most drive-ins are seeing much higher attendance than normal. Drive-ins like Tibbs now use online ticketing and food ordering. 12"We built our whole business on nostalgia and it's nice that we've turned a corner. We've kind of brought it into the 21st century," says Snyder. 13Some American drive-ins have even more to offer. Just outside the city of Detroit, Michigan, is the Ford Wyoming Drive-In. It has five large screens and is open all night, from sundown to sunrise. 14The Ford Wyoming does not have a "season." Its operator also owns a building company, so the drive-in has snow-clearing equipment available nearby. The drive-in is open year round. 15Co-owner William Clark admits the Ford Wyoming is "unusual" for drive-ins. He says ticket sales this October were about two times higher than usual. 16"We never close," he says, unless "there's a 10-inch snowstorm right before the movie goes on the screen." 17I'm John Russell. 18The Associated Press reported this story. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. 19_____________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21graduation - n. a ceremony at which degrees or diplomas are given out 22trick-or-treat - n. a custom on Halloween in which children knock on people's doors and say "trick or treat" when the doors are opened to ask for candy 23ticket -- v. to give or sell a ticket to (someone). A ticket is a piece of paper that allows you to see a show, participate in an event, travel on a vehicle, etc. 24nostalgia - n. pleasure and sadness that is caused by remembering something from the past and wishing that you could experience it again 25screen -- n. a large, flat, white surface on which images or movies are shown 26We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.